BOG sets tuition and fees for fall 2016; two alumni join the board

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — The Shepherd University Board of Governors approved tuition, housing, dining, and miscellaneous fees for fall 2016 during its February 25 meeting.

The board approved a 5 percent increase for in-state and out-of-state undergraduate and graduate tuition and required fees. Undergraduate in-state tuition would increase by $170, to $3,585 per semester. Undergraduate out-of-state tuition would increase by $427, to $8,741 per semester.

Graduate tuition would increase by $20 per credit for in-state students, rising to $435 per credit, and by $30 for out-of-state students, to $622 per credit.

The 5 percent tuition increase is necessary due in part to a 4 percent reduction in appropriations from the state of West Virginia implemented on January 1. The Governor’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2017 holds Shepherd at the same amount as the revised budget with the 4 percent cut carried forward, but the final FY17 appropriation will not be determined until later in the spring.

Room rates were approved at an average increase of 1.89 percent, depending on the type of housing. Board rates were approved at an average increase of 2.08 percent across current meal plans.

Two new Board of Governors members were sworn in by Dr. Marcia Brand, board chair. Eric Lewis, of Shepherdstown, is a CPA with the Charles Town accounting firm of Ours, Lawyer, Lewis & Co. and is a Shepherd graduate, class of 1995. Lewis is a member of the board of directors of the Shepherd University Foundation. Chauncey Winbush, of Elkridge, Maryland, is associate athletic director for business affairs with the Naval Academy Athletic Association. Winbush, also a member of Shepherd’s class of 1995, was a member of the Shepherd Rams football team from 1990-1993 and was inducted into Shepherd’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

In other board action, the music theater concentration in the B.A. in music was eliminated, and a general concentration was approved in the B.A. in music.